Health Social Work Directors' Group

Co-Convenors and Treasurer

Glenda Kerridge (Co-Convenor)
Eastern Health

Tass Kostopoulos (Co-Convenor)
Eastern Health

Fiona Creaven (Treasurer)
Royal Women's Hospital

Contact [email protected]

Purpose

The Health Social Work Directors' Group (HSWDG) is a Practice Group of the Victorian Branch of the AASW which comprises health social work managers from across Victoria. We meet bi-monthly to provide a supportive forum in order to discuss common issues, share quality improvement projects and to network.

Aims

To promote professional collaboration on topics relevant to the management of social work in hospital settings; and to promote consultation and networking in relation to issues such as resources, best practice, service delivery, quality assurance, industrial developments, service development, education and social work management knowledge and skills.

The HSWDG has been functioning since the early 1970s, and has been at the forefront of promoting and encouraging professional standards of Social Work practice in the health field, leadership, student education and supervision and providing a voice with regards to issues requiring social action

Since 2009, the HSWDG have organised and promoted an annual Research Symposium to provide an opportunity for health social workers to meet together and showcase the research which is being undertaken across health networks which adds to the evidence-base for our practice.

Membership

The group comprises social workers from Victorian hospital based health services. at manager level and above (Grade 4 and 5) and Grade 3 level where they are the most senior social worker in the organisation.

Upcoming Meetings

2022 Research Symposium - to be held online 18 May 2022

Full Program details and registration for this FREE event can be found via this link: https://www.vu.edu.au/social-work-symposium/program

Past Symposia

HSWDG Symposium 2018 - Showcasing Social Work Practice through Research and Quality Improvement
View here for more information

HSWDG Symposium 2017 - Research Informing Practice in Health Social Work: From Ideas to Innovations
View here for more information

HSWDG Symposium 2016 - Innovation in Paediatric Social Work – Knowledge Generation and Knowledge Translation
View here for information